Sports Mole previews Monday’s Serie A clash between Lecce and Udinese, including predictions, team news and possible line-ups.
Needing only one point to ensure security, Lecce welcome to other Serie A wrestlers Udinese at the Stadio Via del Mare on Monday evening.
Denying the Bianconeri’s victory would confirm the hosts’ survival, but their visitors are in a much more serious situation.
Match Preview
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After an alarming mid-season decline, Lecce appear to have timed their exit from the drop zone to perfection, remaining unbeaten in six of their last seven Serie A matches following last week’s 1-1 draw against Cagliari.
Luca Gotti‘s arrival as head coach has clearly paid dividends for the Giallorossi, whose only defeat during this period came against AC Milan, but the resurgent striker Nikola Krstovic also played a major role.
Now associated with a former rival Roberto Piccoli In attack, the Montengrin has been directly involved in a goal in each of his last three games, and he followed up a spectacular strike against Monza with a crucial late equalizer at Cagliari.
Seven points ahead of 18th-placed Udinese, Lecce are on the verge of securing their third consecutive year in Serie A, and another draw on Monday would see them cross the finish line.
Unbeaten in their last four league matches against the Fruilani – having lost five of the previous six – recent history will be on their side; even a repeat of the 1-1 result in October’s reverse fixture would spark celebrations in Salento.
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The roles could very easily have been reversed, with Udinese looking down on their hosts in the standings as they have often failed to finish off their opponents this season.
A total of 18 draws is not only the most among Europe’s top five leagues, but also the club’s highest total in 41 years.
Now meeting the Serie A team that has won the most points (16) by scoring in the final 20 minutes, the Fruilani have lost more points than any other team (18) from goals conceded in the same period .
Udinese are therefore stuck in the bottom three and could soon relinquish their long-held status in the top flight; having picked up just three points from their last seven matches, such form suggests relegation could be on the cards.
While Isaac’s success scored in second-half stoppage time to snatch a draw against Napoli on Monday – and they have already beaten Lazio, Juventus and Milan – the Bianconeri’s inability to manage their business against more modest opposition s has also proven to be costly.
Only Serie B-bound Salernitana have accumulated fewer points than teams currently in the bottom half of the table, which is why their coach was recently appointed. Fabio Cannavaro will try to reverse this trend in Via del Mare.
Lecce Serie A form:
Udinese Serie A form:
Team News
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Meeting his former club on Monday, Lecce boss Luca Gotti will be forced to make a change from the start, as Roberto Piccoli must serve a suspension after picking up another yellow card last weekend.
Rémi Oudin could be moved to a more advanced position, behind in-form striker Nikola Krstovic, with Almqvist Bridge being promoted from the bench to start on the hosts’ right flank.
Kastriot Dermaku, Mohamed Kaba And Banda Lameck are all sidelined for the remainder of the season due to knee injuries, but Nicolas Viola could overcome a calf issue in time to make the team.
Meanwhile, Udinese’s list of long-term absences features Enzo Ebossé And Gérard Deulofeuwith Sandi Lovric, Marco Sylvestri and French striker Florian Thauvin also about to miss the long journey to Salento.
More positive for Fabio Cannavaro, Argentinian duo Nehuen Pérez And Martin Payero are both returning to the fold after a one-match suspension.
Best striker Lorenzo Lucca has found the net just once in his last 16 league matches, and he will be supported by either Brenner or captain Roberto Pereyra – the latter is expected to recover from a minor injury which kept him out of the draw against Naples.
Possible starting lineup at Lecce:
Falcone; Gendrey, Baschirotto, Pongracic, Gallo; Almqvist, Ramadani, Blin, Dorgu; Oudin; Krstovic
Possible starting line-up of Udinese:
All right ; Pérez, Bijol, Kristensen; Ehizibue, Payero, Walace, Kamara; Samardzic, Pereyra; Lucca
We say: Lecce 1-1 Udinese
There has only been one draw in the last 15 Serie A meetings between Lecce and Udinese at Via del Mare – and none since 2008 – but the evidence indicates that this time around the Bianconeri are the Italy’s draw specialists, while their hosts are tough. to beat at home.
For data analysis of most likely outcomes, scores and more for this match, please click here.
